Mori Ransai

Mori Ransai (1740-1801) was a painter active in the mid-Edo period. His name was Bunsho, and his characters were Kujiang and Zitei. He went by the names Ransai, Narutsuru, etc. He was born in Echigo-Tsumari County, Echigo Prefecture. A native of Echigo’s Kubiki County. He first studied painting under Igarashi Toshiaki in Echigo, then went to Nagasaki to study under Kumai. Around 1773, he moved to Osaka, where he had exchanges with Kimura Kenkodo, Katayama Hokkai, and others. In his later years, he moved to Edo (now Tokyo), and after the death of Sung Shi-seok, he is said to have introduced the Nanhohin school of painting, which was directly transmitted by Xiong Hui.